Resilient wheel



Feb. 28, 1928.

H. M. PATCH RESILIENT WHEEL Filed Nov. 18. -1926 thi! ' INVENTOR r /a//yIV. Paie/a ATTORNEY HARRY M. PATCH, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

RESILIENT WEEL.

Application sied November 18.1926. serial No. 149,019.

This invention relates to a resilient vehicle wheel; and its object isthe provision of a wheel of this character having two relatively movablerigid members which `areoperatively connected with each other through ithe medium of annular elastic cushioning.

members which 'will absorb shocks and otherwise improve the ridingqualities of the vehicle.

.A further object of .the inventio-n is to provide elastic wheel membersof peculiar form and devise a novel manner of connecting the saine tothe rigid members of the wheel whereby the road stresses are uniformlydistributed for the purpose of rendering the wheel stronger, moredurable and more efficient than other resilient wheels.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,-a

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a wheel with partsbrokenaway showing one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is v.a fragmentaryVtransversesection of .the same; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailtransverse sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 2 to a larger scale.`Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a pai-t of a wheel embodying aslightly modified form o f the V invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof a portion of one of the resilient members shown in the precedinglviews.

In said drawing, the reference numeral represents a wheel hub and 11companion plates of annular shape which are rigidly secured to the hubflange 12 in spaced apart relation as by means of collars 13 and 111 anda plurality of bolts 15. The outer peripheral portions 16 of the platesV1l are plane and are held parallel with each other by means of spacingsleeves 17provided with shoulders 18 (Fig) adapted to bear against therespective plates and having re-A duced ends 19 tting in holes, providedin the plate portions 16, cooperating with screw bolts 20 extendingthrough the sleeves and havingheads 21 and nuts 22, respectively,engaging against the outer surfaces ofthe plates. i

The above described parts provide a rigid structure, including the hub,and constitute what will be hereinafter termed as the hub member.

Extending into the space between the .are also arranged plate portionsl16 of Asuch hub memberare planev portions 23Nof companion plates 24 and2& 11 of what will be hereinafter termed the rim member.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,' the platepoi'tions 23are held in parallelk spaced apart relation with eachI` other.

' vTo which end I provide sleeves each composed of a central element 25interposed between the plates, and outside endfelements SaidV outsideeleinentsf26 of a sleeve l 26. have at their `outer vendscircumferential shoulders 27 to bear against the respective plates andreduced vextremities 28 which fit within holes vprovided therefor inthey plates 2a and 2111 and thence extend into counter i' i boresprovided in the respective intermediateA sleeve element 25 for holdingthe associated elements of a sleeve assembly in axial `align ineiitwithyeach other. The sleeve elementsy of each assembly are united withthe plates 24 and 241 by means of 'a riveted bolt29.

The sleeves 1 7 of the hub member are disposed concentrically and incircumferentially spaced apart relation withl respect to the wheel axis.posed of assemblies of elements25 and 26,

in' circumferentially The yrim-member sleeves, comspaced apart positionsin a circle whose diaineter is greater than 'therdia'meter ofthe circleof the sleeves 17. l Y

Cooperating with said inner and outer membersl are two or more annularrubber members, or rings 3Q, three being shown by full lines in Fig.'A 2and by dottedmlines inV Fig. 3.

The inner diameter of an Velastic .member or ring, as hereinaftertermed, is less than` that'of the circlel of thel axes of the sleeves 17and also less than the diameter of theV central openingv of the platesof the'rirn member. Thus kthe elastic rings 30 when applied constituteaV flexible extension of the rim member into the region'of the hubinember wherein yare located the sleeves 17. The

rings 3 0 are connected to the rigid members of the wheel by'means ofthe sleeves of the respective members. For which purpose said rings areprovided with two sets of circumferentially disposed holes 31 and 32, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The holes 31 are of diameters vand arranged to-`'have the sleeves of the-hub member fit within and extend entirelythrough the respective holes of the rings.

. tions 23 of the `rim member'.

finner peripheries. Y ,l

1 v 1 The combined thicknesses oit the assembled The `holes 32 of therings are of diameters and are arranged to have theoutei portions of thesleeves of the rim member lit within the respective rings. By`preference,.the holes 3l are disposed in zigzag relation with respecttothe holes 32 to afford circumfer- `eiitially of the rings imperforatearcuate portions intermediate proximating holes circumferentially of therings.` i

Inftlie wheel construction illustrated in Figs. l and 2, three rings areemployed, oneof which is located between the plate portions 23 of theriin member and the other two rings complementary thereto are" distheextreme lengths of the respective sleeve elements 25 and 26 and theassociated bolts 29 are less than thespacing apart otthe plate portions`16 of the hub "member, perk n'iitting relativeaxial movement Aoi' thetwo lwheel members and also relative movement of the members atrightangles to the wheel axis `or in the plane of the wheel, which `movementsbeing adorded by the resiliency of rings and with an absence of wheelnoise` As soon as Figs. l and 2, the side platey 24 of the rim member isbent back as `at 33 upon itself and thence extends as at 34 to Van edge35 whichseats within a peripheral groove 36 of the lside plate 241. Thetire 38, herein `shown as of the `solid type, is seated in a channeledrim 39jwhich is adapted tobe detachably secured upon thewheel structureas by means of wedge blocks 40 and securing bolts 4l provided with nuts42.

In Fig. 4 I illustrate a modilied embodi`-` ment ot the inventionadapting the same to a construction wherein but two rubber rings 3() areemployed. i y

In such embodin'ient,'plate portions'Qlrl ot' the rim wheel-member areVjuxtaposed with eachother to eliminate aiiyring receiving spacetherebetween. vThese 'plate portions 23a are 'iirthermore formed toprovide tubular bosses 43 which, likethe sleeve `parts 26 of thehereinbeitore described einbodiinentot` the invention, serve as studswhich are engageable in the holes 32 of the rubber rings. i i i Thesleeves 17 and the means for securing the saine to the side plates ofthe hub meiniber arein the modified form 4)-u sii'nii portion ol theriminember.

lai" in construction and operation tothe correspondingly describedelements with respect to Figs. 2 andl.

`W'herejtwo rings 3.0 are used, a single washer 44 on sleeve 17 willanswer betweenv the rings. In Fig. 4 the plates of the riin member ofthe wheel are flanged as at 24a and have secured thereto by rivets 45 arim plate 46. i

, The rubber rings serve to yieldably couple 'the hub and rim wheelmembers together within the space provided between the plates el the hubmember and in overlapping relation with the inner peripheral The rubberrings, moreover, are connected to the hub and rim members by means oitdevices rigid with the respective members and `arranged in alternatingrelationscircuinfer- V entially et the wheel in a iiiannerperinittingmovementsl of the members with re spect to each other in threedirections: circumlferentially and dian'ietrically` of the wheel in theplane ofthe wheel, and axially of the wheel. i j

The construction land operation of my iiivei'itioii will be understoodfrom the tore` going description.

llVhat I claim, is,- Y

l. A resilient wheel Acomprising a hub member including two companionside plates and plate spacing means, a rim member eX- tendi'ng into thespace between the plates o't' thehub member, rubber rings interposed`between the two Yii'ieinbers at opposite sides ofthe rim' member, ringengaging means provided on the rim member, said rings beprovidedwith-holesin. which are ening gaged the plate spacing means of one ofsaid ii'ienibers and the ring-engaging means of the other membeilorconnecting the rings with the respecthiemembers.` Y i 2. A resilientwheel comprising a hub member havingV circular companion side plateelements and a hub element, means provided in proximity of theperipheries oli' said side plates for retaining the latter in spacedapart relation, a rim member eX- 'tending into the `space between theside plates of the hub member, studs protruding l'roin the oppositeVsides of said rim member, `elastic rings positioned in said space `atopposite sides 'et the rim member, said rings being provided with seriesot' holes to 'receive the plate spacing lmeans ofV the hub member andthestuds of the rim member whereby said members are coupled with each otherthrough the medium of the elastic rings. f l A Signed at Seattle,lllashington, this 3rd 'day' ot November, 1926.

HARRY M. PATCH. Y

